“This is not a film that we’ve made. It is, I promise you, a movie.” — Steven Spielberg introducing “Ready Player One,” March 11, 29018, Paramount Theater.

Well, that happened.

Steven Spielberg, as in THE Steven Spielberg, showed up at the Paramount on Sunday night to introduce the world premiere of his new movie “Ready Player One.”

Not this guy:

But this guy:

As you might imagine, the assembled were very excited indeed.

After a very brief introduction from SXSW Film head honcho Janet Pierson, out came Spielberg with the cast of “Ready Player One,” along with screenwriters Zak Penn and Ernie Cline, the Austin author whose book upon which the film was based.

Spielberg noted that while you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy the fil– uh, movie, he himself has been a gamer for longer than much of the audience had been alive.

“I’ve been a gamer ever since 1974 when I played the first Pong game on Martha’s Vineyard filming ‘Jaws,'” he said.